Ikebana, Japanese Decorative Art

The term of Ikebana describes the technique of arranging in artistic manner various flowers into a vase. It is a occupation which truly represents the inner sensibility and the remarkable love for beauty of the japanese nation. An art teeming with symbols, who's main goal is to recreate Nature's universal perfection into the artificial environment of the modern world.

Ikebana generated from the fusion of two old japaneze words,ike- which means to give life- and bana-flower-, this fact explaining in a suggestive way the meaning of this ancient japanese pursuit. It originated in the VI century Japan, ikebana floral systems being used to adorn Buddhist temples. The salient features of this ancient decorative art are unevenness, asymmetry, the pursue of apparently imperfect shapes and last, but not least, the simpleness, a ikebana composition always suggesting the passing of time. This kind of composition evolves on three levels, symbolising the sky, the man and the Earth. Depending on the kind of vase used, there are two types of ikebana, namely Moribana( uses flat vases) and Nageira( the vase is long and thin).

Amongst the plants used in ikebana compositions I can mention roses, irisis, chrysanthemum or tulips. An interesting impression is created by using branches of japanese cherry or apple trees. The ikebana floral composition evolves in accordance with the season, from the austere and dull adornnings during the winter to spring's boom of life, diversity and colour.

Nowdays Ikebana is an art which has developed globally, going long ago beyond Japan's borders. But the Asian country still remains the home of this fascinating occupation, existing more than 15 million practitions of ikebana, and that just amongst the japanese. It is teached as regular subject in over 3000 schools, being recognized countless styles and masters of ikebana.

Origami - The Japanese Art Of Paper

A way to pass time for some, for others just a simple game, Origami is in fact, alongside the tea ceremony and ikebana, one of the most important aspects of the Japanese ancient traditions. It is a truly unique art, a melange between simpleness and armony, in true Japanese manner.
This ancient art of paper folding originated somewhere in China, almost 2000 years ago and it was adopted by japanese aristocracy a few hundred years later. Used in the past for decorating ancient Buddhist temples, origami products have became nowdays a part of the day to day japanese life, being used in various occasions, such as decorating the modern japanese houses or as gifts for weddings. To give you a clue about the impact oregami art has on japanese society, I could tell you that these people are considering building an origami plane to be launched from space. Recently a prototype passed a durability test in a wind tunnel on March 2008, and Japan's space agency adopted it for feasibility studies.
Origami doesn't just cover still-lifes, it also covers moving objects; Origami can move in clever ways. Action origami includes origami that flies, requires inflation to complete, or, when complete, uses the kinetik energy of a person's hands, applied at a certain region on the model, to move another flap or limb. Some argue that strictly speaking, only the latter is really "recognized" as action origami. Action origami, first appearing with the traditional Japanese flapping bird, is quite common. One example is Robert Lang's instrumentalists; when the figures' heads are pulled away from their bodies, their hands will move, resembling the playing of music.